France and Germany Express Doubts Over US-Led Ukraine Peace Talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – A leaked recording of a phone conference reveals growing skepticism from France and Germany regarding the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations being spearheaded by the United States. The details,published today by German magazine Der Spiegel,suggest a rift between key European powers and Washington over the path forward in the conflict.
According to the report, French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy against making territorial concessions without robust “security guarantees.” Macron reportedly warned of a potential betrayal of UkraineS interests. German Chancellor Merz took a more direct tone, advising Zelenskiy to proceed “extremely carefully” in the coming days, and accusing the US of “playing games.”
The German government has declined to comment on the Der Spiegel article. While the French presidential office has not directly addressed the report, it reportedly disputes Macron’s alleged statements. A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry offered only that they do not comment on leaked information.
The revelations come after President Zelenskiy’s visit to paris on December 1st, where he received reaffirmations of support from European leaders, including those from the UK, Germany, Italy, and Poland. Together, the trump management’s special envoy for the Middle East, Whitkoff, engaged in a five-hour discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 2nd regarding a potential Ukraine peace plan, but no breakthrough was achieved.
This growing divergence in approach underscores the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the conflict and raises questions about the unity of the Western alliance in seeking a resolution.
